How to Play Hockey

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One of the first things you should master when you learn how to play hockey is how to tape your hockey stick. Although it can be done a few different ways and once you play more you might find a better way to do it but there are a few basic things to remember when you tape your stick.

When you tape the butt end of you stick the first thing you need to do is to determine if you like to have a knob at the tip of the stick and what size. The size of the knob is personal preference and up to each individual player.

To make a knob at the tip of the hockey stick you need to take some hockey tape and wrap it at the top of the stick to make a knob. Wrap it more times for a larger knob and fewer times for a smaller knob. Once you get the knob to the size you like without breaking the tape roll out about one foot of tape. With the sticky side facing out roll the tape into a small rope and then surround it around the stick in a spiral fashion about 1 inch apart. This will form a rib along the shaft. If you need it to go farther down the shaft pull out more tape, roll it and wrap it some more. The ribs will form a grip and traction for you when you have your gloves on so it is over to you as to how long and how much space you want in between each rib. Once you finish making the ribs with the twisted tape you should then wrap tape around it covering the ribs and tape. It may take one or two coats of tape but make sure that the tape is tight and has a good bond to the stick.

Now that you are done with the butt end of the stick it is time to move on to the blade.

In the first place, you have to remove a 8-inch bit of tape and join it to the bottom of the cutting edge. It ought to be on the bottom of the sharp edge and straddle both the front and rear of the stick. This gives additional security to the bottom of the stick where it meets the ice. Next, you have to start wrapping the stick from the sharp edge to the heel covering every bit of tape as you go. The nearer the cover the more pad for the puck and the more remote the cover the less pad. In the event that you like an all the more firm surface for the puck on the stick spread the tape out. Keep in mind to ensure that you ought to apply the tape firmly and evade any wrinkles. The tape ought to end at about inch from the toe of the stick and the end of the tape ought to be on the strike side.

One trick that some players use to prolong the life of the tape is to wax the bottom and sides of the tape. This helps protect against moisture and water and help keep your tape job last.